FreeBSD 15.0 had [1]aimed to provide a KDE desktop install option from its text-based OS installer to make for a more compelling FreeBSD out-of-the-box desktop experience. That was then [2]delayed to FreeBSD 15.1 but [3]that didn't end up materializing . Now the KDE desktop install option is diverted to FreeBSD 15.2.

To the FreeBSD laptop project's desktop install option [4]plans , a new [5]comment yesterday confirmed the shift in plans:

"The script still needs to be updated because new NVIDIA drivers have been released, and some parts have become obsolete (no longer necessary) and should be removed. After the script is committed to CURRENT, a testing period will still be required before the functionality can be merged into STABLE. Therefore, in order to provide users with the best possible solution, it was decided to target STABLE 15.2 instead."

So if all goes well, FreeBSD 15.2 will finally have the KDE desktop install option akin to this:

FreeBSD 15.2-RELEASE should be out in December. For now you can always use pkg post-install to take care of a KDE Plasma desktop experience on FreeBSD.



[1] https://www.phoronix.com/news/FreeBSD-15-KDE-Install-Plan

[2] https://www.phoronix.com/news/FreeBSD-15.1-KDE-Desktop-Option

[3] https://www.phoronix.com/news/FreeBSD-15.1-Beta-1

[4] https://github.com/FreeBSDFoundation/proj-laptop/issues/25

[5] https://github.com/FreeBSDFoundation/proj-laptop/issues/25#issuecomment-4419895673